Cuban companies propose agricultural products in the French market.

Companies from the Cuban province of Cienfuegos presented on Thursday in Paris a sample of fresh agricultural products with the ambition of conquering the French market.

Among the entities that presented their offers are Cítricos Arimao, Horquita, and Eladio Machín, which delighted French entrepreneurs and followers of the Cuban regime with a tasting that included mango, mamey, guava, and other exotic products, as reported by the official agency Prensa Latina.

The Director of Science and Development of the Agriculture Delegation in Cienfuegos, Liliana Mederos, explained that they are seeking contacts and negotiations to expand access to this market, a proposal that sounds as ambitious as disconnected from the current Cuban reality, where producers complain about the difficulties of working and about crops being lost due to lack of fuel or poor state management.

The Director of Foreign Trade, Yanet González, highlighted that the agenda in France also aims to coordinate new projects and financing intended to improve the technological capabilities of Cuban producers.

At the headquarters of the Cuban embassy in Paris, the interest in products such as mango and mamey was highlighted, exotic fruits for the European market, but essential and very expensive for Cubans.

The export strategy was partially justified by the Cuban government as a necessity to obtain foreign currency in a challenging economic context, a plan that would undoubtedly benefit French consumers more than the Cuban people themselves, who continue to struggle with a severe food crisis.

Increasing and diversifying exports may be a priority, but it becomes a paradox when Cuban citizens do not have access to the same products that are sent abroad, as has been the case for years with the fishing production, to cite an example.

Cuba exports almost all of its fishery production, especially shellfish, while on the island the annual per capita consumption of fish has decreased in recent years "from 16 kg to about 3.8 kg", a figure far from what the World Health Organization recommends, which should be around 12 kilograms per capita.